Beyond Picket Fences: How MacLeod & Co. Is Redefining Industrial Commercial Real Estate

When most people think of real estate, their minds naturally wander to suburban single-family homes, manicured lawns, and wooden picket fences. But behind the scenes, an entirely different sector powers our daily lives: corporate and industrial commercial real estate. From massive fulfillment hubs to high-tech distribution centers, the physical spaces that keep global supply chains moving are just as complex as they are crucial.

In a recent Coast to Coast TV spotlight, Tanveer Grewal sat down with Chase MacLeod, Founder and CEO of MacLeod & Co., to pull back the curtain on Southern California’s high-stakes industrial market.

Meet the Expert: Who Is Chase MacLeod?

To understand the dynamic shifts in modern warehousing, it helps to know the person navigating them.

Raised in Plano, Texas, Chase MacLeod entered the commercial real estate world right on the heels of the 2008 financial crisis. Learning to negotiate complex deals during an economic downturn built a foundation of resilience and sharp market intuition.

After years of representing Fortune 1000 companies and institutional investors, Chase founded MacLeod & Co. in 2021 as a boutique, data-driven brokerage based in Southern California. Recognized as a CoStar Power Broker and named to Real Estate Forum’s 50 Under 40, Chase has closed over $850 million in transactions and overseen more than $1.5 billion throughout his career. Today, his firm specializes in large-scale warehouse leasing, land development, and investment sales across California, Texas, and the broader Southwest.

Dispelling the Industrial Market Myth

One of the biggest misconceptions circulating right now is that the industrial market has hit a slump. Chase is quick to clarify that the market isn’t down—it’s just undergoing a powerful shift.

• A Strategic “Tenant’s Market”: For growing companies looking to lease warehouse space, current conditions offer unprecedented leverage. With expanded inventory, tenants have an ideal window to secure favorable terms.
• Landlords Remain Selective: Despite the shift in leverage, institutional property owners aren’t accepting just any deal. Success comes down to negotiating the right balance of concessions, such as rent-free periods or tenant improvement allowances for specialized equipment.

Overcoming High Barriers with Vertical Innovation

Southern California presents a unique challenge for industrial developers and corporate end-users: land cost and time.

Between soaring land values and lengthy entitlement processes, the barriers to entry in SoCal are exceptionally high. To adapt, developers are increasingly building taller. When a company leases a 500,000-square-foot warehouse today, they pay for the physical ground footprint while gaining significantly more vertical cubic volume for racking and storage—giving them far more operational utility out of the same footprint.

The Inland Empire’s Global Reach

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Southern California CRE—particularly in the Inland Empire—is its international footprint. Massive logistics providers and quietly influential global corporations that the general public has never heard of are regularly occupying “monster warehouses” near major port corridors to fuel nationwide distribution networks.

When guiding clients through this fast-moving landscape, Chase focuses on two essentials: geography first, followed by a clear list of non-negotiable building specifications.

“The barriers to entry in Southern California are exceptionally high between land costs and development timelines. Understanding exactly where a company needs to be geographically and defining non-negotiable specifications is what unlocks the right opportunity.”

— Chase MacLeod, Founder & CEO, MacLeod & Co.

Putting these strategy principles into action, MacLeod & Co. recently secured one of the largest industrial leases in the Inland Empire West—a massive 500,000-square-foot Class A facility in Ontario, California, valued at over $32.5 million. Representing a major global e-commerce and logistics operator, MacLeod’s team capitalized on a building that had been sitting on the market for nearly two years to negotiate from a position of absolute leverage. From first paper to signed lease in under two months, the deal delivered high-capacity 30-foot clear heights, 58 dock doors, and rare additional trailer yard space situated right near Ontario International Airport and major freight corridors.

To explore industrial brokerage services, corporate tenant representation, and investment opportunities, visit MacLeod & Co. online. He prides himself in both his vast real estate expertise and experience coaching his kids’ sports games!

Check out our video, which features Tanveer Grewal interviewing Chase MacLeod on Coast to Coast TV, offering viewers a first-hand look at modern industrial warehouse trends and real estate strategy in Southern California.